Henderson, Grider, Smith Win Contested Races in Blackford County Primary

From the May 5, 2026, Republican Primary Election

Blackford County voters decided five contested local races in Tuesday's Republican primary, with at least two incumbents losing their seats, according to results from the Indiana Election Night Reporting system.

Aaron M. Henderson defeated incumbent Prosecuting Attorney Joelle Freiburger with 839 votes (53.1%) to Freiburger's 740 (46.9%), a margin of 99 votes. With no Democratic candidate filed, Henderson is the presumptive next Blackford County Prosecutor for the 71st Judicial Circuit.

Deb Grider defeated incumbent County Council District 3 member Patrick Cale with 237 votes (58.2%) to Cale's 170 (41.8%). No Democratic candidate filed, making Grider the presumptive next District 3 council member.

In a three-way race for County Commissioner District 2, Shane Smith won with 650 votes (41.9%), edging Laura Pierce Coons at 599 (38.6%) by just 51 votes. Eddie E. Cansler received 302 votes (19.5%). No Democratic candidate filed for this seat either.

In other contested races, Adam Solga defeated Tarick Townsend Strine for County Coroner, 821 votes (55.2%) to 666 (44.8%). Chris Green defeated Clint Abney for County Surveyor, 981 votes (67.3%) to 476 (32.7%).

At the state level, Blackford County voters split nearly evenly in the U.S. Representative District 3 Republican race — Marlin Stutzman edged Jon Kenworthy by just five votes locally, though Stutzman won the district overall. Blake Fiechter defeated Travis Holdman for State Senate District 19, 60.2% to 39.8%.

County Council District 1 is the only local race heading to the November general election ballot, with Republican Jeff Whetzel facing Democrat Ashlee Beeman.

Source: Indiana Election Night Reporting, enr.indianavoters.in.gov, Blackford County results, accessed May 7, 2026